The shift to one-pass, low-disturbance seeding systems over the past decade has been dramatic. Seeding equipment has evolved to meet the challenges of applying fertilizer in the new seeding system.
Two systems, mid row and side band, are popular with producers. But which is better?
The answer appears to be that both perform well.
From 2000 to 2002, Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute conducted field trials comparing the performance of the Bourgault mid-row band and the Flexi-Coil Stealth side-band systems.
The project was conducted in co-operation with Agriculture Canada and the University of Saskatchewan’s soil sciences department. It examined crop response under the two systems in wheat, canola and flax at four Saskatchewan sites.
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All plots were direct-seeded into standing stubble. The three-year, four-location test provided a variety of soil moisture and temperature conditions, reflecting natural conditions producers are likely to face from year to year.
Urea and NH3 were the nitrogen source and 11-51-0 was the phosphate source. All nitrogen fertilizer was side banded with the Flexi-Coil system and mid-row banded with the Bourgault system.
The phosphate was seed placed with the mid-row system, side banded when applied with urea and seed placed when used with side-band NH3.
Yields and grain protein were recorded for each system at each site.
There were no significant yield differences between the two systems 84 percent of the time. Where there were significant differences, the mid-row band system had higher grain yields six percent of the time and the side-band system had higher yields nine percent of the time.
Under dry conditions during the first few weeks after seeding, access to nitrogen from the mid-row band was limited due to the distance between the seed row and the nitrogen band.
Side band openers are more difficult to adjust for optimum seed depth, compared to a knife opener, because of soil disturbance in the seeding zone with the side-band opener. Soil finish is also rougher with the side-band system.
